Softball Game Preview: Northgate Flames vs. Shady Side Academy Bulldogs

Flames

Runs

04/14/25 vs Brentwood	5
04/09/25 vs Apollo Ridge	1
04/04/25 @ Shady Side Academy	17
03/26/25 @ New Brighton	11
03/24/25 vs Bishop Canevin	4
+ 5 more games

The Northgate Flames will face off against the Shady Side Academy Bulldogs at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Northgate is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.9 runs per game this season.

Last Monday, Northgate came up short against Brentwood and fell 8-5. The defeat continues a trend for the Flames in their meetings with the Spartans: they've now lost three in a row.

Johna Abramowicz spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned (and four unearned) runs on six hits and racked up 13 Ks.

On the hitting side, Gracie Auth was cooking despite her team's loss, scoring three runs and stealing six bases while going 3-for-3. She has been hot recently, having posted two or more stolen bases the last three times she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Michaela DeFlorimonte, who went 1-for-3 with one triple and two RBI.

Meanwhile, Friday just wasn't the day for Shady Side Academy's offense. They came up short against South Allegheny on Friday, falling 16-0. Having soared to a lofty 15 runs in the game before, the Bulldogs' shutout was a dramatic turnaround.

Northgate's loss dropped their record down to 6-4. As for Shady Side Academy, their defeat was their seventh straight on the road dating back to last season, which dropped their record down to 1-4.

Northgate's speedy runners might be the difference in Wednesday's game. The Flames have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4.8 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Shady Side Academy, though, as they've been averaging only 1.2 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Northgate continue to outrun the ball?

Everything went Northgate's way against Shady Side Academy in their previous matchup two weeks ago, as Northgate made off with a 17-7 win. Will the Flames repeat their success, or do the Bulldogs have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.